LAKE RUDOLPH 



281 



I first observed a rather curious thing which afterwards became a 

 common sight. It is the habit of this rosy bee-eater (^M crops 

 mibiais) to ride on the back of the large crested pauw {Eupodotis 

 kori), which is common about the north-east extremity of 

 Bassu. It sits far back, on the rump of its mount, as a boy 

 rides a donkey. The pauw does not seem to resent this liberty, 



Pauw {Eupodotis kori) AND Bee-EATER {Merops mibicus). 



but stalks majestically along, while its brilliantly clad little 

 jockey keeps a look-out, sitting sideways, and now and again 

 flies up after an insect it has espied, returning again after the 

 chase to " its camel " — as Juma not inaptly called it. I have 

 even seen two bee-eaters riding on one pauw. 1 have also 

 noticed this pretty little bird sitting on the backs of goats, 

 sheep and antelopes, but the pauw seems its favourite steed. 



